UPDATE: The Huffington Post has published a piece on the Associated Press report that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate. As of this writing, there are already 618 comments (with 34 more pending). I realize that many of our readers would not “be caught dead” visiting the HuffPost. However, I would recommend that … [Read more...] about This Memorial Day, Some Sobering Statistics (UPDATED)
Miami Police Shoot Naked Man Who Was Chewing Another Man’s Face
I know that a lot of people these days talk about wanting more "face time" with others, but this is ridiculous: It was a scene as creepy as a Hannibal Lecter movie. One man was shot to death by Miami police, and another man is fighting for his life after he was attacked, and his face allegedly half eaten, by a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway off ramp Saturday, … [Read more...] about Miami Police Shoot Naked Man Who Was Chewing Another Man’s Face
Lip Sync Proposal Goes Viral
A Portland, Oregon man wanted to really go all out when he proposed to his girlfriend. This is the result, an amazing performance that raises the bar for future grooms to hopeless levels. But wow... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY&feature=share … [Read more...] about Lip Sync Proposal Goes Viral
Sail On USS Iowa
Just one quick shot of the Iowa heading out under the Golden Gate Bridge, with a more detailed posting to follow … [Read more...] about Sail On USS Iowa
Quote of the Day: George Will on Mitt Romney’s Apparent Political Best Bud Donald Trump
Our political Quote of the Day comes from conservative columnist George Will who has this to say about presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney continuing to link himself up with the country's most famous birther, PT Barnum spiritual descendent, Donald Trump: “I do not understand the cost benefit here,” Will said on the “This Week” roundtable. “The costs are clear. The … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: George Will on Mitt Romney’s Apparent Political Best Bud Donald Trump
Australia’s “Final Goodbye” Teen Shaun Wilson-Miller Dies After Viral Video Touched Hearts and Inspired Millions
His video was supposed to be just for his friends, shot shortly after receiving devastating news. But, instead, it went viral. By the time he died yesterday, his final days would also serve as a role models for how to appreciate the the present and how to leave it for eternity. And due to You Tube which carried his words, emotions and wise perspective to millions, Australia … [Read more...] about Australia’s “Final Goodbye” Teen Shaun Wilson-Miller Dies After Viral Video Touched Hearts and Inspired Millions
Oval Office Head to Head
Campaign watchers get a double-header of metaphors with reports that Barack Obama is eschewing a Rose Garden strategy and going head to head with Mitt Romney by name, along with a reminder of the President’s fondness for a three-year-old photo showing an African-American boy touching his hair in the Oval Office to compare it to his own. As they were no doubt intended to be … [Read more...] about Oval Office Head to Head
Race In The Race
Frank Bruni writes in this morning's New York Times, that race is still at the center of the American presidential contest: Although race represents a less central dynamic for Obama now than it did in 2008, it’s a factor in his political fortunes nonetheless. It poisons some of his opponents, pumping them full of a toxic zeal beyond the partisan norm. How else to … [Read more...] about Race In The Race
It’s Time for a National World War I Memorial (Guest Voice)
It's Time for a National World War I Memorial by Julian Saltman History News Service On Monday Americans will gather to celebrate Memorial Day, a holiday on which we honor those who have served, and fallen, in our country's armed forces. Veterans and their descendants will participate in ceremonies and parades across the country, and many will be in Washington, D.C., to … [Read more...] about It’s Time for a National World War I Memorial (Guest Voice)
Trust Me: You Believe in Gun Control (Guest Voice)
Trust Me: You Believe in Gun Control by Tina Dupuy If you ask the typical hyper-political gun owner (and I have ... at Thanksgiving dinner), why it's important to own a gun, they'll bark about the Constitution. Yes, the Second Amendment: "The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed!" This of course is the slogan the National Rifle Association … [Read more...] about Trust Me: You Believe in Gun Control (Guest Voice)
Ronald Reagan’s Blood: A Civil Relic with a Difference (El Pais, Spain)
While America is a young country not as prone as some others to preserving 'relics' of the dead, we do appear to have a thing for blood, which, if modern science progresses as some think it might, could result in some interesting historical clones. This article on the subject by El Pais columnist Marcos Balfagon reflects on this odd historical preoccupation, and on the wisdom … [Read more...] about Ronald Reagan’s Blood: A Civil Relic with a Difference (El Pais, Spain)
TMV experiencing hiccups
TMV has been experiencing some duendes (goblins, in Spanish) who have been stealing slippers and making the Chicago River green when it isnt St Patty's, and messing with the hoists and levers in our posts and commenting sections. Our IT guy Tyrone says as we get closer to elections too, the hacking attempts have increased. And as of just a few minutes ago, he thinks it is all … [Read more...] about TMV experiencing hiccups
The Ghouls of May
Friday, something unprecedented happened. The Right/Red blogs banded together to destroy ONE person (a blogger claims he feels "threatened"). The entire front page of Memeorandum is dominated by this coordinated attack and smear. That OUGHT to scare hell out of everybody else, but I see virtually no commentary whatsoever. The entire blogosphere has been coopted into the … [Read more...] about The Ghouls of May
Facebook IPO
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Facebook IPO
Women Serving on Our Submarines, and All Is Well
Back in September 2009, when the Navy was seriously considering allowing women to serve aboard its nuclear submarines, I posted an article titled, “Should Women Serve on Submarines?” and, at the end, asked, “What do you think?” With a couple of exceptions, most of the readers saw no problem with this change in policy or had some reasonable, practical reasons for opposing … [Read more...] about Women Serving on Our Submarines, and All Is Well
Mitt Romney’s Education Muddle
Does Mitt Romney have a clue? By the way, who are his campaign advisers? Does he have campaign advisers? Is he generally underinformed and living in a blur when it comes to education? ... About school reform. Three big ideas: First, Romney is going to make the states provide “ample school choice.” Unless we’re talking, mushily, about vouchers, this one sounded … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney’s Education Muddle
Low Content Denominator (Guest Voice)
Lowest Content Denominator by Peter Funt Recent Time and Newsweek covers constitute last gasps in the dying newsweekly business. Of greater concern, however, is that while these magazines are already in media's rearview mirror, their turn toward tabloid-style sensationalism reflects what is happening all along the information highway. You saw or heard about the covers … [Read more...] about Low Content Denominator (Guest Voice)
Memorial Day
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Memorial Day
White House Website Gone Wild (Michael Reagan Guest Voice)
White House Website Gone Wild by Michael Reagan We'll never know what Ronald Reagan would have done with WhiteHouse.gov, the official website of the White House But I know my father wouldn't be abusing it the way Barack Obama is. WhiteHouse.gov is owned and operated by the federal government, but the incumbent gets to run it and design it to his own political … [Read more...] about White House Website Gone Wild (Michael Reagan Guest Voice)
Women Serving on Submarines, and All Is Well
Back in September 2009, when the Navy was seriously considering allowing women to serve aboard its nuclear submarines, I posted an article titled, “Should Women Serve on Submarines?” and, at the end, asked, “What do you think?” With a couple of exceptions, most of the readers saw no problem with this change in policy or had some reasonable, practical reasons for opposing … [Read more...] about Women Serving on Submarines, and All Is Well